Social Learning Theory

• What are the three main assumptions of Social Learning Theory (SLT)?

  1. Behavior is learned from the environment.
• What is the second assumption of Social Learning Theory (SLT)?

  Behavior is learned by imitating role models.
• Why is imitation more likely according to SLT?

  Imitation is more likely if the role model is similar.
• How does learning occur in Social Learning Theory?

  Learning occurs directly and indirectly through reinforcement.
• What is identification in Social Learning Theory?

  Identification is associating with a role model.
• What is imitation in SLT?

  Imitation is copying a role model's behavior.
• What is vicarious reinforcement?

  Vicarious reinforcement is observing reinforcement of others.
• What are mediational processes in SLT?

  Mediational processes are cognitive factors influencing learning.
• What are the four mediational processes in SLT?

  Attention, Retention, Motor Reproduction, Motivation.
• What was the aim of Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment?

  To investigate if children imitate role models.
• What happened in the aggressive condition of the Bobo doll study?

  The role model shouted and hit the Bobo doll.
• What occurred in the non-aggressive condition of the Bobo doll study?

  The role model played calmly with the doll.
• What happened in the control condition of the Bobo doll study?

  Children played with the doll normally.
• What were the findings of Bandura’s Bobo doll study?

  Children in the aggressive condition imitated aggression.
• How did boys' behavior compare to girls' in Bandura's study?

  Boys were more aggressive than girls overall.
• What role did same-sex role models play in Bandura's findings?

  Children were more likely to imitate same-sex role models.
• A strength is that it takes into account cognitive factors which the behaviorist approach does not do. The social learning theory acknowledges the role of mediational processing, suggesting that humans weigh up the pros and cons of an action before imitating behavior. This is less reductionist compared to other approaches and is a more detailed explanation of behaviour in comparison to classical and operant conditioning. This suggests that it is more widely accepted by psychologists.
• A strength is that it can explain cultural differences. In the UK, people say hello through waving their hands, but in cultures like Japan, they bow. This shows that the theory has cultural relativism and can help understand a range of behaviours as it can account for how the children learn from people around them and the media. Therefore, it is good at explaining human behaviour and is not culturally biased.
• A limitation is that it ignores biological factors. Bandura's research consistently found that boys were more aggressive than girls. There's an increased level of testosterone in boys that could explain this aggression, which is not considered in social learning theory. This shows that the approach cannot be considered alone, so needs a combination of explanations so it is holistic.
• A limitation is that there is an over-reliance on nomothetic methods. All studies use highly controlled settings and you cannot apply the results of lab studies to an everyday situation. Demand characteristics may have been shown during the experiment as the children were aware they were being watched by an experimenter. This shows that it cannot be a good explanation of human behaviour alone as it has low ecological validity and demand characteristics had occurred suggesting it has low internal validity as well.
• What is one strength of Social Learning Theory in comparison to the behaviorist approach?

  • SLT considers cognitive factors
  • Acknowledges mediational processing
• Why is acknowledging mediational processes a strength of SLT?

  • Humans weigh pros and cons before imitating
  • Makes SLT less reductionist than conditioning
• What does the exclusion of biological factors suggest about SLT?

  • SLT is not a complete explanation of behavior
  • A holistic approach may be more accurate
• Why is over-reliance on lab studies a problem for SLT?

  • Lab studies often lack ecological validity
  • May suffer from demand characteristics